Artist Spotlights: Magna Carda Has the Power to Shape a City
Rock and roll dominated the Austin music scene for years. Now, hip-hop acts like Magna Carda are switching up the local sound.
Artist Spotlights introduces you to artists that may not be on your radar yet, but should be. With recently cancelled tours and income loss for small artists, there’s no time like the present to find new talent to support.
Written by Camryn Garza
Photo courtesy of Jesus A. Acosta
Recommended If You Like: The Roots, Saba, Fugees
Ten minutes away from where Willie Nelson brought roots music to Austin is St. Edward's University, where Magna Carda began its journey toward hip-hop prominence. Described as a hip-hop outfit, the MC-producer duo consists of Megz Kelli and Dougie Do. With crisp lyricism and a dynamic sound to match, Magna Carda is poised to broaden the range of Austin’s music scene.
It’s no secret that Austin loves its folksy rock and roll, however, the title of ‘Live Music Capital' should encompass more than the Americana ideal. In the past, Austin was characterized by the sounds of long guitar chords and a lack of diversity that left genres such as hip-hop and R&B to make up less than 11% of the live music scene. Magna Carda, whose roots take hold in the tangled lineage of hip-hop, jazz, and R&B, is one of the few artists that stray from Austin's notorious rock and roll reputation.
Photo courtesy of Raelena Kniff for Capitol Sound DC
Performing with a live band, Magna Carda is “Austin’s answer to The Roots,” according to Mashable. The Roots — as in the '90s band that famously combined organic live instrumentation with the traditional technicalities of hip-hop. Today, Magna Carda brings a new-age vibe to the classics as the duo continues to find growth in the city's evolving music scene.
Early in the duo’s career, performing with a live band was the only way Magna Carda could snag a weekend slot at venues like Club512. The added use of traditional band instrumentation, including keyboards and guitars, granted Magna Carda access to Austin’s live music scene. Now, the incorporation of live instruments is what sets the duo apart from other hip-hop groups. The rawness of an electric bass and imperfect drum beats enrich the group’s sound.
Magna Carda’s latest EP, Coffee Table Talk Volume Two, released in April, is reminiscent of The Roots' Things Fall Apart meets Saba’s CARE FOR ME. Songs on the EP such as “Groove Sum’n” and “Milez” radiate with a flowing backbeat supported by Kelli's sharp lyricism. Hints of smooth jazz, R&B, and trap beats combine perfectly in "Free Work," as Kelli calls out to famous jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan in remembrance of his unmatched notoriety as a jazz musician. Dougie Do's expressive beats throughout the EP transport listeners to a plush jazz lounge, and as soon as they fall into the record's soulful musicality, the listeners are brought back to reality by the tranquil lyricism of Kelli.
Before the pandemic, Magna Carda was making a name for itself at The Far Out Lounge and other local venues. The duo even secured a day at KUTX, performing for NPR Music’s Live Session. Even though Kelli and Dougie Do decided to take a break from performing in-person shows, their music continues to reach the minds of many Austinites and beyond as it climbs toward 1 million streams on Spotify. With an emerging presence in some of Austin’s most notorious venues, Magna Carda's power to reimagine the city’s music scene is unwavering.
Magna Carda’s ability to pave the way for musical diversity in Austin is undeniable. With a new EP and a sound that brings listeners back to the origins of hip-hop and R&B, Magna Carda continues to redefine the sound of the state’s capital.
Listen to Magna Carda on Spotify and Bandcamp. You can find them on Instagram @magnacarda